16 Saber Tails Spring 2017

Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America

Colorado.  Our sponsored trailer is pictured above with 

the club logo appearing on the second row of logos on 

the far right of the trailer.  Ours is the second trailer to be 

sent to Colorado where there is frequent need for disaster 

relief.  Jefferson County is the 4th largest county in Colora-

do with over 500,000 residents.  It is situated immediately 

west of Denver and consists largely of suburbs of the city 

and is considered to be part of the metropolitan area.  It 

is located at the  Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and 

has a county slogan of “Gateway to the Rocky Mountains.”

Jefferson County experiences its share of natural disas-

ters that have made it a prime candidate for a Pet Disaster 

Relief trailer.  Almost four years ago, Jefferson County en-

countered days of unusual rainfall that resulted in disas-

trous flooding.  Floods are by far the most common natu-

ral disaster in Jefferson County but there are also frequent 

concerns related to the possibility for wildfire.

According to the AKC Reunite website, the following is 

a history of why the trailer program was begun by AKC 

Reunite:  “After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, local 

Emergency Management teams are now required by Fed-

eral Law to have readiness plans and resources available 

to help citizens and their pets in the event of a disaster.”

“AKC Pet Disaster Relief helps local Emergency Manage-

ment provide animal care services immediately fol-

lowing a disaster.”

“The program’s genesis was in response to the dev-

astation after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 where many 

people stayed in harm’s way because emergency re-

sponse plans did not accommodate pets.  AKC Pet Disas-

ter Relief life saving trailers will enable local Emergency 

Management organizations across the country to plan, 

prepare and respond to disasters that impact people and 

their pets.”

Each trailer is stocked with supplies sufficient to house at 

least 65 pets for at least the first few critical days follow-

ing a disaster.  Supplies in each trailer include crates, pet 

carriers, bowls, leashes, microchips, a microchip scanner, 

cleaning supplies, lighting, and is wired to run off a gen-

erator or power source.  It contains equipment needed to 

put together an emergency lost-and-found pet shelter.

City, State or County Local Emergency Management 

Teams apply for a trailer through their local AKC Kennel 

Club.  Once the application is reviewed and approved, a 

trailer is granted to the Emergency Management Team 

with an agreement that the organization will store and 

manage the trailer and display it at local community 

events to educate citizens about disaster preparedness 

for animals. 

To learn more, you can visit akcreunite.org/relief

The PBGV Club of America has sponsored 1 of 2 trailers donated to 

the Jefferson County Sheriff Animal Response Team.  The above map 

shows the placement of all current trailers and trailers on order.

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